17 17. Convince Skye

"Skye, Coulson is asking for you in his office," May said.

"Huh, Coulson is asking for me?" Skye asked in surprise since it has been quite some time since she last saw Coulson after he gave her the task to find anything about the weird language that Garret had carved after getting GH325 in his system.

"Yes, go I can ask someone else to do your task," said May

"OK," Skye said as she started to walk towards the office of Coulson.

"You called me D.C.," Skye said as she knocked on the door of Coulson's office.

"Yes Skye come in" came Coulson's voice from inside the office

Skye entered the office only to see not only Coulson but Fitz as well.

"Umm... Fitz, you were called as well" asked Skye

"On the contrary, it was Fitz who wanted to ask something from you," Coulson said then turned his head towards Fitz and continued, "Let's see if you can make her agree Fitz"

"Th-Thank you, Director," said Fitz bowing his head to Coulson a little then turned his head to look towards Skye.

"What is it Fitz?" asked Skye

"I-I need your.... help in-in my experiment," Fitz said

"Your experiment? Then why did you need Coulson's help to tell me about it? Didn't I told you just yesterday that I will help you in any way I can, all you have to do is ask" Skye said

"I-I know, but-but his permission is... necessary for the experiment" Fitz explained

"Oh, Ok so what is this experiment you want my help with?" asked Skye

"I want you to convince the person to let us experiment on him" Fitz stated

"Umm... I know you think highly of me Fitz and I won't deny that I have my way of getting things but I am not sure if I will be able to convince someone to let you experiment on them" Skye said

"No, you can for this person you can Skye" Coulson added as he clicked on his laptop and the big flat screen in the front wall showed the video of Ward doing push-ups.

"Ward!?" Skye said in shock, "You want me to convince Ward to let you experiment on him"

Fitz nodded his head slowly while he continued to look towards Skye.

"Why? What is this experiment you want to do on him, Fitz?" Skye couldn't help but ask.

"I want to see if-if Ward was bra-Brainwashed or not" Fitz stated

"Oh, Fitz, Why do you still continue to believe in him after what he did to you, Jemma, Agent Koenig, and to so many people," Skye said with a pained expression, "He is a monster Fitz and you should stop believing him now"

"N-no I don't believe in him, Skye, it-its the non-science I believe in," Fitz said as he showed his tablet to Skye, "Be-before... SHIELD, Ward was kept... i-isolated for 5 years by Garret, in-in those 5 years... he was the only h-human con.. contact that he had, it's enough time to use the method of brainwashing typ-typically involve... isolation from former ass... associates and so-sources of... information; an ex-exacting re-regimen... requiring ab-absolute... obedience and hu-humility; strong... so-social pressures... a-and rewards for co-operation; ph- physical and.... ps-psychological pun-punishments for non-cooperation.... ran-ranging from a-social  ost-ostracism  and  cri-criticism, De... deprivation of food, sleep, and social contacts, to bo-bondage and torture; and continual rei-reinforcement"

Skye was looking at the data on Fitz's tablet and she heard every word he said but she still doesn't believe that Ward was brainwashed.

"We both know how strong Ward and his will is do you really think that someone like him can be brainwashed," Sky said

"Actually yes, Joost Meerloo, a-a Dutch psy ....psychiatrist, was an early pr- proponent of the con-concept of brainwashing. Meerloo's vie-view was in.. influenced by his... ex-experiences.... during the German oc-occupation of his... country and his work with the Dutch go-government and the..... The American military in the int... interrogation of ac-accused Nazi war criminals. He.... later e-emigrated to the... The United States and tau...taught at Columbia University."

"Wait! You are saying this Meerloo guy had drawn a conclusion on brainwashing in the 20th century" asked Skye in surprise.

"Y-yes, His best-selling 1956 book, The Rape of the Mind, concludes by saying: The modern techniques of brainwashing and menticide—those perversions of psychology—can bring almost any man into submission and surrender. Many of the victims of thought control, brainwashing, and m-menticide that we have talked about were strong men whose minds and wills were broken and degraded. But although the to-totalitarians use their knowledge of the mind for vicious and un....unscrupulous purposes, our democratic society can and must use its knowledge to help man to grow, to guard his freedom, and to understand himself." Fitz read the whole conclusion from his tab and let Skye see it as well.

Coulson and Skye were a little surprised that Fitz wasn't stumbling with the words so much but then remembered that he had read the whole content word by word so it wasn't like that.

"Ok, Fitz I believe you but do you think Ward's mind was broken and degraded because he wouldn't be such a successful SHIELD Agent if that's true" Skye stated

"On the contrary... Skye, that made him an... excellent agent" Fitz stated

"What?" Coulson couldn't control himself when he heard that, "What do you mean by that Fitz?"

"Sir, before.... joining us... Ward always completed the mission... more im-importantly he always foll-followed orders given to him. Agent Grant Ward was so-someone who... followed the rule-rulebook to the T and was..... in- inflexible because his mind didn't allow him to" Fitz stated

Coulson's expression was a little solemn and he had started to lean towards Fitz's theory.

Skye on the other hand was a little shocked as she still couldn't believe what Fitz was saying was true.

"Skye yo-you promised... that you would do... any-anything for me... if it was p-possible for you. I don't want... you to be-believe in Ward, just trust me a-and help me" Fitz said

"*sigh* I won't believe Ward but as you said I will trust you, so tell me what do u have to do Fitz"